Written Answers Thursday 3 February 2011

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its planned exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme given that business travellers have access to subsidised ferry fares and public service obligation-subsidised air fares.

Keith Brown: The Air Discount Scheme (ADS) was introduced to facilitate an improved level of social inclusion for individuals resident in the scheme’s eligible areas. The mechanism – Aid of a Social Character – under which the scheme is notified to and approved by the European Commission is not designed to support economic activity. It is for the benefit of individuals and not organisations, whether in the public or private sector.

  The Scottish Government’s support for air public service obligations (PSOs) is provided under separate EU legislation which recognises the importance of the relevant services for economic development and that, without assistance, it is unlikely that they would be commercially viable. Support through PSOs is applied to all passengers, regardless of reason for travel or place of residence. Our support for ferry services is applied through public service contracts and also applies irrespective of reason for travel and passenger residence.

Air Services

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to help retain BMI’s air service between Glasgow International Airport and London Heathrow Airport.

Keith Brown: We deeply regret BMI’s decision to suspend its service between Glasgow and Heathrow.

  In recognising the importance of our connections to Heathrow for business and for tourism, I met BAA’s Chief Executive Officer on 19 January 2011 and I reiterated our concerns about the impact of Heathrow’s new charging structure on Scottish services. We do not accept that costs associated with international travel, including customs and immigration control, should be attributed to domestic services accessing Heathrow. I also met separately with Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Chief Executive Officer of BMI.

  I have also written to the Secretary of State for Transport asking him to bring all parties together – BMI, Heathrow and Glasgow – to preserve this route for Glasgow and for Scotland and I will be making this point again in discussion with him.

Alcohol

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce levels of underage drinking.

Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 strengthened legislation to crack down on those selling alcohol to people under 18 and saw the roll out of test purchasing of alcohol.

  Our Alcohol Act builds on that by banning quantity discounts in off-sales and introducing a requirement for an age verification policy set at 25.

  It is unfortunate that the Parliament did not agree on other measures, such as minimum pricing, which would have also helped restrict young people’s access to alcohol.

  Education and diversionary activities are also vital. CashBack for Communities, which has seen just under £26 million reinvested in activities for young people, and the roll out of Curriculum for Excellence are important in supporting young people to make responsible choices.

Bridges

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage increase in journeys across the Forth Road Bridge has been since the removal of tolls.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional CO 2 has arisen from the increase in journeys across the Forth Road Bridge since the removal of tolls.

Keith Brown: Responsibility for the operations of the Forth Road Bridge is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA).

Construction

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance and regulations are in place for contractors engaged in public construction projects regarding the disposal and recycling of construction waste after construction is completed.

Roseanna Cunningham: All producers of waste, including construction companies, are required to comply with the duty of care set out in section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This places a legal responsibility on them to ensure that they manage waste without harming the environment or human health.

  Construction projects can impact on the environment in a number of ways, including emissions to air, land contamination, noise pollution and discharges to water, as well as waste disposal. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) provides a wide range of advice and information to the construction industry in order to help those undertaking construction projects better understand those impacts and their statutory environmental obligations.

  SEPA will, as part of its input into the planning process for large-scale construction projects, routinely suggest that planning authorities include a condition in their approvals that the applicant develop and implement a site waste management plan. This is intended to encourage contractors to explore the adoption of procurement and operational practices that will minimise waste produced on-site and maximise the recycling and recovery of any waste which is produced.

  SEPA offers a range of guidance to assist contractors with the production of site waste management plans and other recycling and recovery opportunities. Comprehensive information can be found in the Customer Information section of the SEPA website:

  http://www.sepa.org.uk/customer_information/construction.aspx.

Dentistry

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under five, (b) five to 18 and (c) over 18 had teeth extracted in the (i) NHS general and (ii) hospital dental service setting in 2009-10.

Shona Robison: The information you requested in provided in the following tables.

  Table 1 Number of Patients in Scotland who had Teeth Extracted in the NHS General Dental Service (GDS) Setting in 2009-10 (Patient Age)

  

0 - 4 years
5 - 18 years
Over 18


578
55,802
251,779



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Table 2 Number of patients in Scotland who had a Tooth Extraction procedure carried out in the NHS Hospital Dental Service (HDS) setting in 2009-10 (Patient Age)

  

0 - 4 years
5 - 18 years
Over 18


1,944
6,350
5,646



  Source: Information Sources Division SMR01.

Dentistry

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been an increase in the number of patients registering with an NHS dentist since 1 April 2010.

Shona Robison: In the period from 30 March 2010 to 30 September 2010 there was an increase in NHS general dental service registrations for children from 815,248 to 867,200.

  In the period from 30 March 2010 to 30 September 2010 there was an increase in NHS general dental service registrations for adults from 2,571,860 to 2,815,576.

  Data showing the number of NHS general dental service registrations in Scotland is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4680.html.

  Source: Information Services Division, National Services Scotland

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a proposal to close a primary school that would also close a pre-five unit requires separate statements for the primary and pre-five children where the impact of the closure would have a different outcome for the different age groups.

Michael Russell: The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out the consultation process that local authorities must adhere to when proposing the closure of a school, a school-based nursery and a standalone local authority nursery school. As part of their statutory duties, local authorities must prepare an educational benefits statement which includes its assessment of the likely effects of the proposal on all of the affected pupils. There is however, no requirement to produce separate statements for different age groups.

Environment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in identifying candidate large strategic habitat restoration projects, as mentioned in paragraph 96 of the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.

Roseanna Cunningham: RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils are in discussion on the potential for large scale coastal habitat creation on the Inner Forth.

  SNH, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Central Scotland Green Network and RSPB Scotland have agreed to fund a project officer to undertake their Inner Forth Futurescape Project, which will result in the production of a strategy and delivery plan for landscape scale habitat restoration and management along the Inner Forth. Throughout the Central Scotland Green Network area a suite of integrated habitat network plans are being developed by partnership working between local authorities, SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland and Central Scotland Forest Trust. These will help identify the potential for future projects.

  Forestry Commission Scotland recently convened a meeting of agencies and environmental organisations to agree how best to co-ordinate future work on landscape scale ecosystem restoration initiatives throughout Scotland.

Environment

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies to the Capercaillie LIFE Project in each year since 1999 and whether it will provide a breakdown of how the money was spent.

Roseanna Cunningham: The EC LIFE Project "Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie" commenced in 2002 and was completed in 2007. Details of contributions by public body contributors to the project are as follows:

  

Body
Contribution (£000)


Scottish Government
85


Forestry Commission Scotland
406


Scottish Natural Heritage
217


Cairngorms National Park Authority
2


European Commission LIFE Co-Funding
2,099


Total
2,809



  Details of expenditure by action is as follows:

  

Action
(£000)


Community Engagement, Planning and Monitoring
349


Land Purchase
1,406


Habitat Management 
752


Predator Control
729


Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Dissemination
272


Project Management
690


Total
4,198

Environment

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) other public bodies to initiatives to support capercaillie conservation other than the Capercaillie LIFE Project in each year since 1999 and whether it will provide a breakdown of how the money was spent.

Roseanna Cunningham: Details are as follows:

  

 
Project
1999-2000 £0
2000-01
£0
2001-02 
£0
2002-03  £0
2003-04   £0
2004-05  £0


Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) 
Fence Challenge Fund
 
 
69.8
 
 
 


Species Action Framework
 
 
 
 
 
 


UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - project officer
51
 
 
61.3
 
 


UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - other projects contributing action towards meeting targets
4.7
0.4
25.4
36.9
30
43.4


Conservation of Capercaillie across Scotland
 
 
 
 
 
 



  

Body 
Project
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0


Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
Fence Challenge Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 


Species Action Framework
 
121.3
70
60
116
20


UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - project officer
10.6
83.1
 
28.3
 
 


UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan - other projects contributing action towards meeting targets
30
35
45.6
23.5
57
21.1


 
Conservation of Capercaillie across Scotland
 
 
 
 
38.7
39.9



  Summary Spend

  

Body
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


 
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000


SNH
55.7
0.4
95.2
98.2
30
43.4
40.6
239.4
115.6
111.8
211.7
81


Forestry Commission Scotland
-
-
734.5
 
10
13.8
57
218.1
182.3
125.9
172.6
106.7


Scottish Government
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
107.9

Environment

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has for capercaillie numbers in each geographical area covered by the Capercaillie LIFE Project in (a) each year that the project has received public funding, (b) 2007 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Capercaillie LIFE Nature project "Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie" ran from 1 February 2002 to 31 January 2007.

  The size of the national capercaillie population is estimated every six years. The most recent published results come from the 2003-04 survey which estimated the national population to be 1,980 birds (95% confidence limits 1,284 – 2,758). Scottish Natural Heritage expects to announce the results from the most recent survey, undertaken over the winter of 2009-10, in the coming months.

  Two forms of annual monitoring are undertaken – lek counts and brood counts. Lek counts record the peak number of males seen displaying at known lek sites in Spring. These counts provide an indication of the number of displaying males but should not be interpreted directly as population sizes since immature males may not display at traditional sites.

  Regional data for numbers of lekking male capercaillie recorded at monitored lek sites during the Capercaillie LIFE Project and in 2007 and 2010 are as follows:

  

Year
2002
2003
2004
2005


 
Leks Counted
Males
Leks Counted
Males
Leks Counted
Males
Leks Counted
Males


Easter Ross
11
23
11
22
11
29
11
27


Moray and Nairnshire 
9
20
9
20
10
22
11
18


Badenoch and Strathspey
27
86
24
103
29
129
34
132


Deeside and Donside
19
39
19
32
19
35
20
48


Perthshire
6
9
6
5
5
6
6
8


Loch Lomond
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1


Glen Affric
0
0
5
1
5
0
2
0



  

Year
2006
2007
2010


 
Leks Counted
Males
Leks Counted
Males
Leks Counted
Males


Easter Ross
11
18
11
26
14
22


Moray and Nairnshire 
14
20
14
15
16
19


Badenoch and Strathspey
37
116
37
126
40
141


Deeside and Donside
20
40
20
40
20
24


Perthshire
8
10
7
11
9
9


Loch Lomond
1
2
1
2
4
0


Glen Affric
2
0
2
0
2
0

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake for breast screening has been in (a) NHS Tayside and (b) the Dundee Community Health Partnership area, broken down by three year rolling period since 2006 and expressed as a percentage of those eligible.

Shona Robison: Information on uptake rates for breast screening in NHS Tayside is publicly available and published by the Information Services Division at: http://isdscotland.org/isd/1622.html .

  Information on the uptake rate in the Dundee Community Health Partnership area is not held centrally.

Income

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a unit to monitor the implementation of the living wage in the public sector.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government will monitor the implementation of the living wage in relation to those bodies covered by the Scottish Government Public Sector Pay Policy 2011-12 through its pay remit process. Pay across the rest of the public sector in Scotland is determined through separate processes outwith the Public Sector Pay Policy.

Income

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason local authority employees are excluded from its living wage commitment.

Alex Neil: Local government pay is a matter for local government and the appropriate unions.

Income

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to encourage living wage agreements in the private and voluntary sectors.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is supportive of living wage commitments in the private and voluntary sectors. Our Public Sector Pay Policy for 2011-12 requires organisations covered by the policy to pay their employees a living wage of £7.15 per hour - the current living wage level proposed by the Scottish Living Wage Campaign. However, beyond the levels set by the National Minimum Wage, which is reserved to the UK Government, pay is a matter for organisations, their employees and trade unions.

Income

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what private sector employers it has met to discuss the implementation of a living wage policy and when.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is supportive of living wage commitments in the private and voluntary sectors. Beyond the levels set by the National Minimum Wage, which is reserved to the UK Government, private sector pay is a matter for companies, their employees and Trade Unions.

Libraries

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public libraries there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Fiona Hyslop: Details on the number of public libraries in Scotland are not available by parliamentary constituency. The Scottish Library and Information Council have brought together the Scottish figures by local authority area from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA). CIPFA figures are only available from 2000 onwards. This information is available in the "Libraries open 10+ hours" table of the Scottish Library Statistics 2000-10 spreadsheet, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52392)

Libraries

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on new books for libraries in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Library and Information Council has brought together the Scottish figures by local authority area from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA). CIPFA figures are only available from 2000 onwards and relate to books. This information is available in the "Book Funds" table of the Scottish Library Statistics 2000-10 spreadsheet, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52392).

Libraries

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many books have been loaned by libraries in each year since 1999, broken down local authority.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Library and Information Council has brought together the Scottish figures by local authority area from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA). CIPFA figures are only available from 2000 onwards. This information is available in the "Book Issues" table of the Scottish Library Statistics 2000-10 spreadsheet, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52392).

Local Government Funding

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons Argyll and Bute Council’s grant settlement in 2011-12 will decrease by 4.94%, almost double the average reduction for the other local authorities.

John Swinney: Grant funding for Argyll and Bute Council for 2011-12 will reduce by more than the average reduction across all authorities mainly because of two factors within the local government distribution methodology.

  The most significant is in relation to the distribution of funding for the former ring-fenced Supporting People grant. Updated needs-based indicators for this funding element were applied, as agreed with COSLA. Both COSLA and the Scottish Government are aware that the impact of the updated indicators has raised questions and these are currently the subject of further discussion.

  The second change is in relation to the Special Islands Needs Allowance element of the distribution methodology. This provides for additional funding for island communities which are not otherwise connected to the mainland (by a road bridge) and where the cost of providing local services is greater as a result. Seil Island is so connected but this had been missed in earlier settlements. It was agreed that this oversight should be corrected from the 2011-12 settlement but that the change should not be applied retrospectively.

Local Government Funding

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it expects the impact of the decrease in grant settlement in 2011-12 will be on Argyll and Bute Council services and what its response is to local concerns.

John Swinney: Despite the biggest reduction in public spending imposed on Scotland by any UK Government, the Scottish Government has protected local government’s share of the Scottish Budget. Within that, Argyll and Bute Council will receive the highest per capita revenue funding of any mainland authority in 2011-12, 25 per cent above the Scottish average. Both COSLA and the Scottish Government are currently considering the impact of changes made to the distribution formula which may result in some further adjustment to Argyll and Bute Council’s funding. How the council allocates its funding across its services in response to local concerns is of course a matter for the council itself.

Non-Domestic Rates

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the (a) valuation of and (b) annual amounts collected in non-domestic rates on fibre optic network operators since May 2007.

John Swinney: Valuations of all non-domestic property are available on the valuation rolls which are published on the Scottish Assessors Association website at www.saa.gov.uk . The Scottish Government does not hold information disaggregated below that which appears on the valuation rolls.

  The annual amount of business rates collected by individual businesses is not held centrally. The amount paid in rates by any business will vary depending on level of any rate relief awarded, the impact of resolution of any valuation or material change appeals, any over or underpayment and bad debt recovery or debt write off by individual local authorities.

Non-Domestic Rates

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a difference in the non-domestic rates valuation between like lengths of fibre optic networks between BT and other operators and, if so, for what reasons.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the valuation principles relating to fibre optic networks and what its assessment is of the implications of those principles for extending such networks to remote communities.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered encouraging a review of the role of non-domestic rating policy regarding fibre optic networks in order to better support expansion of such networks.

John Swinney: Valuations of non-domestic property in Scotland are determined by the independent Scottish assessors.

  In determining valuation methodology assessors work with closely with their counterparts in the rest of the UK and consider international best practice. The assessors also undertake continual dialogue with a range of businesses and representative organisation, including those from the telecommunications sector.

  A robust appeal process is in place for any operator to challenge the assessor’s valuation if they do not agree the rate applied.

Planning

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in establishing a national ecological network outside the area covered by the Central Scotland Green Network and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network.

Roseanna Cunningham: Action 42 of the National Planning Framework 2 (NPF2) Action Plan is to "Develop a National Ecological Network potentially encompassing large strategic habitat restoration projects." As with the other actions, information on milestones and progress is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/npf/action-plan.

  The Scottish Government has started work on the NPF2 Monitoring Report as part of its commitment to keeping the framework under review. This will be published in 2011 and will monitor the progress made in implementing NPF2.

Planning

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local planning applications have been referred to it in each year since 2006.

John Swinney: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals has received the following number of appeals against decisions made by local planning authorities on planning applications since 2006:

  

Year
Appeals Received


2006
1,039


2007
1,106


2008
1,091


2009
908


2010
320

Planning

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning application appeals have been upheld by it in each year since 2006.

John Swinney: The number of appeals upheld against decisions made by local planning authorities since 2006 is:

  

Year
Number of Appeals Upheld


2006
381


2007
413


2008
372


2009
339


2010
158

Poverty

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on tackling poverty in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and how much it plans to spend on this in its 2011-12 draft budget.

Alex Neil: There is no specific budget for tackling poverty. The majority of the social inclusion budget is for tackling poverty. Information on that is set out below, However, a range of other budgets across Scottish Government, including the Fairer Scotland Fund which allocated £435 million from 2008-11 and funding for policy areas such as early years, housing and health inequalities also contribute to tackling poverty. The budgets of local authorities and other delivery partners provide the main funding. As with Scottish Government spend, impact will be made through a wide range of mainstream as well as dedicated services.

  Social Inclusion Budget (Spring Revision)

  2007-08 £7.3 Million

  2008-09 £6.8 million

  2009-10 £6.7 million

  2010-11 £5.2 million.

  The Social Inclusion budget for 2011-12 in our draft budget is the same as for 2010-11.

Poverty

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37988 by Alex Neil on 13 December 2010, what payments have been made from the Achieving our Potential budget since it was introduced, broken down by (a) award, (b) receiving organisation and (c) payment date.

Alex Neil: The following payments have been allocated from the Achieving our Potential programme budget since the answer to S3W-37988:

  £28,000 to Glasgow Works in January 2011 to embed financial inclusion into employability practice.

  £10,200 to APS Group for the design and delivery of the Child Poverty Consultation document in December 2010.

  £9,850 to Young Scot for developing and running focus groups in December 2010 with young people regarding the Child Poverty Consultation.

  £3,500 to Dr Jim McCormick, Scotland Adviser to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in December 2010 for advice and support in the development of the Child Poverty Strategy and the Tackling Poverty Board Evidence Report.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided through the Fairer Scotland Fund for employability programmes in each local authority area in 2009-10 and is provided in 2010-11.

Alex Neil: Allocations of the Fairer Scotland Fund to each local authority area for 2009 and 2010-11 are as follows.

  

Local Authority Area
Funding in 2009-10
Funding in 2010-11


(£ Million)
(£ Million)


Aberdeen City
2.481
2.843


Aberdeenshire
1.038
1.286


Angus
0.988
1.24


Argyll and Bute
0.965
1.104


Clackmannanshire
2.043
2.263


Dumfries and Galloway
1.634
1.694


Dundee City
8.286
8.131


East Ayrshire
4.621
4.589


East Dunbartonshire
0.523
0.621


East Lothian
0.413
0.546


East Renfrewshire
0.575
0.526


Edinburgh, City of
7.599
7.554


Eilean Siar
0.545
0.5


Falkirk 
1.955
2.212


Fife 
4.692
5.675


Glasgow City
51.491
51.969


Highland 
1.959
2.354


Inverclyde
6.125
5.78


Midlothian 
0.718
0.817


Moray
0.422
0.5


North Ayrshire
5.427
5.258


North Lanarkshire
14.339
13.19


Orkney Islands
0.345
0.5


Perth and Kinross
0.847
1.2


Renfrewshire
6.348
5.654


Scottish Borders
0.527
0.739


Shetland Islands
0.348
0.5


South Ayrshire
1.452
1.67


South Lanarkshire
8.164
6.117


Stirling 
0.752
0.906


West Dunbartonshire
5.507
5.067


West Lothian
1.88
1.993


Total
145
145



  It is for each Community Planning Partnership to decide the balance of investment between tackling area-based and individual poverty, and helping more people access and sustain employment opportunities.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it decided to withdraw Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty, and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. The ring fence from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was removed in 2010-11 to provide local partners with increased flexibility in how to use resources to tackle local priorities. The regeneration resources associated with the former FSF have been retained and maintained within the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

  In addition to this funding the Capital City Partnership in 2008-09 and the Edinburgh Partnership in 2009-11 were awarded an additional £2.238 million per year to address the strategic priorities for Edinburgh in respect of community regeneration, tackling poverty and improving employability.

  In the face of unprecedented cuts from Westminster, the Scottish Government had to take tough decisions about expenditure across government and careful consideration of pressures and priorities in all portfolios. In these circumstances, it has not been possible to maintain this particular additional dedicated funding support.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out with the service providers involved in delivering training to people eligible for assistance before the decision was taken to withdraw Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding (FSF) from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty, and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. The ring fence from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was removed in 2010-11 to provide local partners with increased flexibility in how to use resources to tackle local priorities. The regeneration resources associated with the former FSF have been retained and maintained within the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

  In addition the Scottish Government has been able to maintain the overall share of the budget for local government at 34.5%, the same as 2010-11.

  Any consultation on future funding for local projects is the responsibility of local partners.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to withdraw Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding (FSF) from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty, and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. The ring fence from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was removed in 2010-11 to provide local partners with increased flexibility in how to use resources to tackle local priorities. The regeneration resources associated with the former FSF have been retained and maintained within the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

  The decision to end the additional support that the Edinburgh Partnership received to address the strategic priorities for Edinburgh in respect of community regeneration, tackling poverty and improving employability was taken in December 2010.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Capital City Partnership was first informed that Fairer Scotland Funding would cease.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty, and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. The ring fence from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was removed in 2010-11 to provide local partners with increased flexibility in how to use resources to tackle local priorities. The regeneration resources associated with the former FSF have been retained and maintained within the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

  The Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil, wrote to Councillor Tom Buchanan at City of Edinburgh Council on 21 December 2010 informing him that the Scottish Government were unable to continue additional dedicated central government support to the Edinburgh Partnership.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on client groups of the withdrawal of Fairer Scotland funding from the Capital City Partnership.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty, and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. The ring fence from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was removed in 2010-11 to provide local partners with increased flexibility in how to use resources to tackle local priorities. The regeneration resources associated with the former FSF have been retained and maintained within the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

  In addition the Scottish Government has been able to maintain the overall share of the budget for local government at 34.5%, the same as 2010-11.

  It is for local partners to consider the impact of investment decisions on client groups.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support alternative training programmes to replace those that will be lost as a result of the reduction in the Fairer Scotland Fund.

Alex Neil: Edinburgh is being supported by the Scottish Government in a number of ways to help deliver employability initiatives.

  On 14 December 2010, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell announced £64.6 million ESF grant towards 21 strategic projects worth £168 million. A joint bid from Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils received £3.96 million directly from this allocation. They will also benefit from targeted local funding from a number of the other strategic bidders including the Scottish Funding Council, STUC, Skills Development Scotland and a Third Sector Consortium bid.

  The bids are being supported over two years from 2011 onwards and will deliver employability and training services for the unemployed, the lowest paid and the socially deprived, ranging from early engagement through to in-work support and skills development. The organisations will all be involved in the delivery of the strategic skills programme which fits with the Scottish Government’s Skills Strategy and Economic Recovery Programme.

  City of Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils are also working jointly to deliver a higher support needs consortium, which focuses on providing personalised support to people with disabilities and long-term health issues to ensure they are able to acquire and sustain employment. The project has received ESF support twice since 2008, with ESF awards totalling £1.78 million (Total project costs of £3.97 million). The current project will be supported by ESF until September 2012.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on Edinburgh’s Joined Up for Jobs Strategy of the withdrawal of Fairer Scotland funding from the Capital City Partnership.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work together to tackle area-based and individual poverty, and to help more people access and sustain employment opportunities. The ring fence from the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was removed in 2010-11 to provide local partners with increased flexibility in how to use resources to tackle local priorities. The regeneration resources associated with the former FSF have been retained and maintained within the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

  In addition, the Scottish Government has been able to maintain the overall share of the budget for local government at 34.5%, the same as 2010-11.

  It is for local partners to consider how to deliver the Joined up for Jobs Strategy and the impact of any funding changes to that.

Poverty

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision to withdraw Fairer Scotland funding from the Capital City Partnership.

Alex Neil: We will be working with the Capital City Partnership to explore alternative measures for funding projects.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38511 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 January 2011, how much has been paid to prisons to hold prisoners beyond the base level in each of the last three years, also broken down by establishment, and for what projects the money has been used.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows the amount paid to Scottish prisons over the last three years for holding prisoners beyond their base level.

  

Establishment
2007-08 £
2008-09 £
2009-10 £


Aberdeen
23,520
35,580
30,630


Barlinnie
799,960
1,751,930
1,535,610


Cornton Vale
120,010
115,450
5,480


Dumfries
20,450
34,060
 


Edinburgh
135,930
197,750
45,080


Glenochil
 
214,810
 


Greenock
44,230
218,100
45,500


Inverness
 
75,560
51,630


Kilmarnock1
1,181,260
1,099,641
170,400


Perth
 
139,750
 


Polmont
149,130
220,690
95,450


Shotts
 
7,740
3,690



  Note: 1. In the case of Kilmarnock this is the cost of obtaining places above the baseline provided for in the contract.

  This funding is to compensate prisons for the expenditure associated with holding prisoners in addition to the number they are resourced to hold.

Prison Service

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have been tested for drugs on reception to prison in each of the last five years, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information relating to drug testing in prison is published annually in Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland by Information Statistics Division of the Scottish Government. The report can be accessed at:

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/abstracts/ISDbull.htm.

Public Bodies

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) non-governmental agencies, (b) public bodies and (c) quangos there (i) were in May 2007 and (ii) will be in May 2011.

John Swinney: In October 2007, the Scottish Government published a baseline list of 199 national devolved public bodies as part of its simplification programme. We have reduced this to 152. On present plans, this will reduce further to 147 on 1 April 2011 and we have put the necessary arrangements in place to reduce the number of bodies to 115 by the end of 2011.

Public Spending

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted for (a) image management, (b) advertising and (c) marketing for (i) it, (ii) its agencies and (iii) other public bodies in each of the last five years.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on (a) image management, (b) advertising and (c) marketing for (i) it, (ii) its agencies and (iii) other public bodies in each of the last five years.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted for (a) image management, (b) advertising and (c) marketing for (i) it, (ii) its agencies and (iii) other public bodies for the remainder of 2010-11.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on (a) image management, (b) advertising and (c) marketing for (i) it, (ii) its agencies and (iii) other public bodies in 2010-11.

John Swinney: (a) None. (b) and (c) (i) are as follows:

  In 2009-10 the Scottish Government’s marketing unit allocation was £10,800,000.00 of which £8,300,000 was spent on a range of advertising activity to support key policy objectives and to help deliver the government’s National Performance Framework outcomes. A further £5,100,000 was spent on related advertising activity by individual directorates. In September 2009, at the time of the 2010-11 draft Budget, I announced that the Scottish Government’s advertising expenditure would be reduced by 50 per cent from 2010-11. My letter to Mr Welsh, Convenor of the Finance Committee, dated 5 August 2010, provided full details of these matters at the time, a copy of which was placed in Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51458).

  The Scottish Government advertising and marketing budget is allocated exclusive of VAT. For the period 2005-06 to 2009-10 the budget was capped at £10,800,000. The 2010-11 budget is £6,694,453.

  The welfare of the Scottish population is a primary responsibility of the Scottish Government. Ensuring people are aware of the services available to them and any legislative changes is vital. This public information is best communicated using the marketing tools available, such as advertising. The recent risk to health from seasonal flu is an example of how marketing is used to communicate and deliver tangible results, 53.8 per cent of people under the age of 65 with a health condition have been vaccinated – more than ever before in a flu season. The recent extreme winter weather also required the communication of safety messages to Scots across all communities and adverts on local and community radio stations were integral to this.

  The Scottish Government advertising and marketing spend for 2010-11 will be reconciled and published following the end of the financial year.

  The Scottish Government’s advertising gross expenditure for the period 2005-06 to 2009-10 is published on the government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Directorates/Services-Groups/17963/advertising-marketing/spend.

  During the period in question there have been three VAT changes (1 December 2008 VAT decreased from 17.5% to 15%, 1 January 2010 VAT increased from 15% to 17.5% and on 4 January 2011 VAT increased from 17.5% to 20%).

  (c) (ii) (iii) Information on agency and other public body spend is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Rail Network

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to ScotRail in relation to the Airdrie-Bathgate line.

Keith Brown: The franchise payment to ScotRail is for delivering the terms of the franchise agreement including the services specified. Airdrie-Bathgate services have been included within the services specified for ScotRail to operate from December 2010. This payment is not broken down by route.

  The Franchise payment for 2009-10 was £271 million, the budget for the ScotRail franchise for 2010-11 is £315 million and the draft budget for 2011-12 is £295 million.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households received compensation during the development of the Airdrie-Bathgate line and how much was awarded.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the households awarded compensation during the development of the Airdrie-Bathgate line; the amounts awarded, and the reason for compensation being given in each case.

Keith Brown: All aspects of compensation for land and property for the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link are negotiated and paid by Network Rail under The Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2007 Compensation Protocol. Details of individual compensation settlements paid under the regulated settlement are not held by Transport Scotland.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much investment is forecast for improving the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High main line as part of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvements Programme.

Keith Brown: The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) is currently in the design development stages and is planned for completion in 2016.

  EGIP which includes electrification and infrastructure improvements to the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High main line will require an investment of around £1 billion.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much investment is forecast for improving the Cumbernauld line as part of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvements Programme.

Keith Brown: The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) is currently in the design development stages and is planned for completion in 2016.

  EGIP which includes electrification and infrastructure improvements to the Cumbernauld line will require an investment of around £1 billion.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to create an additional platform at Croy railway station for new services to Glasgow Queen Street and, if so, what projected investment is needed to complete the work; when it is likely to be completed, and what additional capacity will be created for new services at Croy station.

Keith Brown: The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) will require an investment of around £1 billion. This programme of rail projects is currently in the design development stages and is planned for completion in 2016.

  The provision of a possible turn-back platform at Croy Station is one of the infrastructure enhancements currently being considered by the EGIP project team. In addition to Edinburgh to Glasgow journey time improvements, the new facility if required would enable new additional Glasgow to Croy local services with no diminution in the number of services currently stopping at Croy.

Rail Network

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the investment plans for 2011 are for the Highland main line.

Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38686 answered on 20 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Rail Services

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what agreement was reached with ScotRail regarding the timetable for trains on the Airdrie-Bathgate line.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a service level agreement with ScotRail regarding the Airdrie-Bathgate line and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Keith Brown: A service level commitment for new Airdrie-Bathgate services was finalised with ScotRail in December 2009. This reflects the four trains per hour assumption in the business case for Airdrie-Bathgate services. However, a revised introductory hourly timetable was agreed with ScotRail to commence from December 2010 as less rolling stock was available than planned due to delays in the delivery of the new Class 380 trains by Siemens.

Road Accidents

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road crashes involving (a) oil and (b) diesel spills there have been in each year since 1999.

Keith Brown: The following table shows the number of reported road accidents where oil or diesel was present at the site. It is not possible to list these liquids separately.

  

Year
Oil or Diesel


2005
72


2006
81


2007
82


2008
88


2009
90



  Note: Data prior to 2005 is unreliable due to changes which were made to the STATS 19 data collection system.

Schools

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to local authorities on whether schools will be on holiday on 29 April 2011.

Michael Russell: Yes. On 20 January 2011, directors were advised that if they intended to seek ministerial consent for the exceptional closure of schools on that day, such consent would be forthcoming. A copy of the letter is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52391).

Scottish Water

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding the Kelso Waste Treatment Works and whether there are plans to invest in the works.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with Scottish Water regarding odours from Wastewater Treatment Works and some odour improvements have already been delivered at Kelso. The government understands that Scottish Water is agreeing an Odour Improvement Plan with Scottish Borders Council that will inform any future investment needs. Scottish Water will continue to keep local residents informed of its plans.

Transport

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38040 by Keith Brown on 15 December 2010, what the timeline is for concluding the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38040 by Keith Brown on 15 December 2010, whether a draft transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup will be issued for consultation.

Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38041 on 16 December 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Transport

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38040 by Keith Brown on 15 December 2010, who is involved in preparing the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is working with Event Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council to develop a transport plan for the event. The exercise will be carried out in conjunction with the Event owner, Ryder Cup Europe.

Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37769 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011, whether it has advised Strathclyde Partnership for Transport how much it will contribute to Fastlink in (a) total, (b) 2011-12 and (c) future years and, if so, when this advice was given.

Keith Brown: No. Budgets at that detailed level for 2011-12 have not yet been disclosed. Budgets for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 are indicative high-level figures and the details of the budgets for these years will be decided after the May 2011 elections.

Waste Management

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place regarding the disposal of construction or refurbishment waste from Commonwealth Games venues.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has recently set targets for achieving a zero waste society, not just for household waste, but also for the construction and commercial sectors. Zero waste is about making the most of all the resources we use and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games can act as an exemplar in all aspects of waste prevention, reduction and recycling. The Scottish Government will work with games delivery partners to reduce waste associated with the staging of the 2014 games to a minimum.

  Our commitment to sustainability was key to Glasgow’s successful bid for the 2014 games, with over 70% of venues in place when the bid was won. All of the new construction (except the alterations at Hampden Park) is being led by Glasgow City Council which has recently prepared a sustainable procurement policy, which uses procurement as a lever to reduce waste to landfill. The council has a sustainability plan which has a low waste games as one of its eight key themes and is working with constructors to implement its policies.

  The overlay required to upgrade existing venues to games standards will typically be temporary and will generate minimal waste.

  The main constructor within the consortium which is building the athletes’ village is a member of the Considerate Constructors scheme which requires that companies place emphasis on environmental factors such as sustainable procurement and waste minimisations including the hierarchy of avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle. The City Legacy consortium has drawn up a Constructors Environmental Management Plan which includes targets to re-use 80% of all cut materials, recycle 100% of all foundations and concrete and re-use 100% of road capping.

  The construction phase of the athletes’ village began with remediation of the contaminated land from its industrial past. A special cell was created at the Cathkin landfill site to deal with soil containing non-hazardous asbestos found on site. A soil washing machine was also brought on site and of the 140,000m3 excavated soil over 70% has been remediated and reused.

  The organising committee is currently developing its design to upgrade and temporarily transform Hampden Park. Environmental and sustainability issues will be addressed as part of the design process. Work is scheduled to begin at Hampden in October 2013.